Saturday, July 30, 2011

Hairston traded to Brewers

The Nationals traded Jerry Hairston to the Brewers today, moving the veteran utilityman to a contender but leaving themselves short-handed in center field and on the bench for the moment.

In exchange for the 35-year-old Hairston, the Nationals will receive Erik Komatsu, a 23-year-old outfielder who was hitting .294 with a .393 on-base percentage for Milwaukee's Class AA affiliate in Huntsville, Ala.

The Nationals haven't announced the trade yet, but a source familiar with the deal has confirmed it.

A pending free agent, Hairston was an attractive commodity for contending clubs. Versatile enough to play just about anywhere on the field, and due only $700,000 for the remainder of the season, he will join a Brewers team currently in first place in the NL Central and trying to make up for the recent injury to second baseman Rickie Weeks.

In 75 games with the Nationals, Hairston hit .268 with four homers, 24 RBI and a .342 on-base percentage. He filled in admirably at third base for nearly two months while Ryan Zimmerman was on theRead more

Glad for Jerry - good baseball guy, seems like a good clubhouse guy, very versatile and plays hard every day. Bixler has been tearing it up in AAA - hope he gets some playing time here. What else is going to happen and when is it going to happen?

Another typical Rizzo trade, getting rid of a decent utility player and good pinch hitter for a soon to be 24 year old "prospect" who has no power at 5'10" 170 pounds. He played at Brevard County last season, which is where 19 year olds play. Rizzo is throwing in the towel on this season and his stupid deals are burying the franchise.

I'm so grateful to Jerry Jr. For all he did for us...he was clutch so many times when we needed him. And he is going to a team in contention this year. I wish him all the best. And for this not to mean we see BJUpton in our clubhouse.PS...the capcha was squat, ich is kinda what we got for him.

sjm - agree with the concussion concerns - just because someone has been cleared to play doesn't mean they are good to go. Look at Ryan Church and that twins player - name escapes me - great player - help? The Ankiel situation also very bad - he has a good arm, but is too much of a free swinger and doesn't seem to read balls well in the outfield or off the wall. That ball he didn't get to last night, Bernie would have had.

Roger Bernadina must not be living right - he seems to get the short end each and every time. Not saying he is Willie Mays - just saying he has not been worse than anyone else on the team - better than a lot. When you are not the teacher's pet( Rizzo) - life can be tough.

Let's see, for two months of a 35 year old utility player the Nationals pic up a 23yo (turns 24 on 10/1) player who was the minor league player of the year in the Brewers system last year and is ranked #10 on the list of Brewers prospects by John Sickels of minor league baseball. He is a good contact guy with a high OBP and has played most of the last two seasons in CF, a need position for the Nationals. Yeah, that's a terrible trade. What are you people smoking? Anon@12:25 complains that he spent last year playing a Brevard County. Yes - and he spent this year playing at Huntsville (AA ball) and put up a .294/.393/.416 there.

IF (and with all AA prospects, that's a big if) he makes it, he is exactly what the Nationals need. Except for two months of 2009 the Nationals have never had a good CF or a leadoff man who gets on base in front of the heart of the order. Want to know why Zim's RBI totals are generally low? Look at the number of times he comes up with two outs and no one on base. With no other moves the Nats lineup next year projects to five guys with 20+ HR power (LaRoche, Espinosa, Zimmerman, Werth, Morse). They don't need another high strikeout power hitter, they need someone to get on base.

Haters gonna hate, I know. But you really have to work it to hate this trade.

SonnyG10 -- the broadcast team was just last night showing Bixler's stats in AAA ( granted , not the majors) and he has been on fire. They were just complimenting him for not pouting when he got sent down and just making his case. They even said that he would probably be the first one up when there was a spot because of how he handled it. Ironic. I love Bixler's speed also - we have very little now that Bernie is gone.

Has anyone looked at OBP for the guys we are discussing? We all feel a great deal for our existing players - that's what fans do. But look at Span's OBP - the primary thing that matters for leadoff guys - throughout his career - and then look at Bernie's, even in the minors - not close. Look at Komatsu so far in his career, and there are encouraging signs. I would think Rizzo would not have made this move unless he thinks he has either Span, Upton or Bourn in the bag. Hopefully Span or Bourn - in a leadoff position, speed and OBP are more important than power. But we'll see. One thing no one has mentioned and I hope DOESN'T happen - Lombardozzi to the team his Dad played for in exchange for Span....

Bixler doesn't pout. One of the guys was asked how Bixler beats out so many of those dribbling grounders. Apparently most guys hesitate for an "Oh, sh*t" when they hit a ground ball but Bixler just flies when he hits it. Gotta love that.

Too bad about Bernie. I agree the offer from Milwaukee must have come fast, and had to be acted on. Hopefully, Bernie will be back soon or off on a good trade to a contender.

NatsLady said...Too bad about Bernie. I agree the offer from Milwaukee must have come fast, and had to be acted on.

Or, maybe this Hairston deal was pending, and that's why the team waited till the last minute to option Bernadina -- thinking it might be finalized Friday. It doesn't matter, of course, but I did idly wonder whether that might be the case.

Yuneski Maya is on call tonight in case Marquis gets traded before the game - he is standing by in DC - Oh, please, let it be after the game - I can't stand another bp session like last night. And -- Posters, please, stop calling people who disagree with you stupid - this is generally a pretty civil blog ( not like another one I could name) and it's just not productive to call names. Disagree, yes, personal attacks - please don't. Just my personal feeling about it.

I certainly lost all confidence in Rizzo long ago, but this was a good move. He is providing a pros pro a chance to go to a big end of year show.Jerry did everything asked of him without any complaints and always appeared ready for any role asked. If the new kid pans out, that is a bonus. Next year we may need another utility player, and if they know that there is a chance Rizzo will move them to a contender, should one call, it helps our chances of landing them.

John C, thanks for speaking up."Haters gonna hate, I know. But you really have to work it to hate this trade" sums it up pretty nice.This is a meaningless trade for the most part, so it's impossible to hate. Keep Hairston for 2 months, or move him for a prospect, at the same time clearing a spot on the 40 man roster.Rizzo needs to clear a couple 40 man spots if he's gonna bring up Malone, Peacock, or whomever.

This trade ain't great. This trade ain't stupid. It's just a blip. Glad for Jerry H, hope he gets enjoys the next two months.

I'm wondering if the Nats had a net gain out of Rizzo's moves of late. The Nats give OF Rhinehart, who was having a great year at Harrisburg (and, hey, Mike, I thought you liked late bloomers!), and LHP Manno for one-dimensional Gomes; and give up productive utility guy Hairston, who's almost leading the Nats in hitting with .260+, for Komatsu. So, in effect, re the Big Club, they trade productive Hairston for not-productive-so-far-in-2011 Gomes (bad, IMO); and, in the tomorrow-we'll-be-a-real-team department, Rhinehart and Manno for Komatsu (maybe okay IMO given Komatsu's work so far and the Nats' need for an OBP guy to lead off since Bernadina unfortunately has proven to be weak there -- career (2010-2011) = .250 BA, .320 OBP). So, with these trades and starting Wang last night should I conclude that the Nats are once again mailing in the rest of the season and stop sending in my money? (I wonder if dumping Jerry's $650,000 matter a lot to them given the upcoming draft signings, the low attendence, the $2 million to Wang, the $6 million to Maya, $126 million to Werth, $15 million to Marquis -- should I go on?). Maybe we could call these trades a net marginal gain? But I wish Rizzo would explain how these moves fit into his strategic plan, if he has one other than whatever impulse he happens to feel at the moment.

Richard, I think you are asking too much.No GM spells out a stratgic plan beyond "build through the draft", "develop prospects", "strategically acquire free agents".But regardless, these deals are noise as part of a strategic plan. In no way would Hairston or Komatsu or Rhinehart or Manno or Gomes fit into anyones strategic plan.He showed respect to a veteran (good point dj), he cut a deal with another GM (develop relationship and trust), he cleared a roster spot, he got another prospect at an area of organizational weakness. These are all relatively good things.

The Nats just traded two months of Jerry Hairston Jr., for 6 years of Eric Komatsu. Komatsu, is younger, cheaper, under control for vastly longer and projects to be a better hitter. He has exceptional plate discipline, which as we've seen is an important skill and was the Brewers Minor League Player of the Year last season.

Komatsu may never be a star, but neither is Jerry Hairston. Komatsu is considered a 4th OF because he doesn't have the power for the corners or the speed for CF every day. The kid can hit though and he'd be a nice bat off the bench for the Nats going forward. And if we really want Hairston, guess what we can just sign him again next year, like we'd have to do anyways come Nov. What was Hairston going to do for the rest of this season that makes him more valuable than someone who is relatively young and raking at AA?

Stevospeak, exactly. Once we sank after the All-Star Break, we became sellers. Good luck to Jerry in Milwaukee, he done good for us.

As far as Rizzo's "grand plan," wasn't it just yesterday folks were complaining that it was an open secret his priority was a high OPB centerfielder?

Clearly, Rizzo wants to build a good starting rotation for next year and get offensive outfield help without completely gutting the bullpen, the infield, and the minor league prospect list. Next question.

And some clown says the Florida State League (high "A") is for 19 year olds. Sorry, but that pretty much says you don't know a thing about that particular league.

Even Eury Perez (who is pretty young) I think is older than that? That anon is an idiot.

Looks to me like Rizzo is hedging his bets on CF this guy is another left-handed hitting CF prospect. Now you have Komatsu, Goodwin, Perez, and Cory Brown (lest we forget him).

By the way do the knuckleheads here still see anything wrong with my comparing Morse's stats most in AA in 2009 to Morse's all in AAA across two leagues? Notice how Heyward is doing. Now look at Morse.

Okay. I just went to some batting cages for a reminder if how hard this game is. At 70mph, I could see a ball coming in time to swing and really miss. The only way I could distinguish a ball faster than that was that it heard it twack behind me before I knew it was on the way.

Just putting it out there. I know these guys are pros, yadayada. They get paid yadayada. It's amazing that any of them hit anything ever.

The Nats give OF Rhinehart, who was having a great year at Harrisburg (and, hey, Mike, I thought you liked late bloomers!)

Well they do still have two pretty potent offensive bats in the line in Harrisburg (and when Gilbert comes back from injury that makes 3) in Tyler Moore and Bryce Harper? Both are also faster and field better. Even Moore is more athletic. From Rizzo's perspective adding another athletic left-handed hitting CF prospect to AA makes sense. Unlike Curran this guy apparently can hit.

@Anon 1:21pm: I'm not going by Rizzo's analysis, because I haven't seen anything he's said about Komatsu. I'm going by John Sickels of Minor League Baseball's evaluation and stats.

Ah, Rizzo, no eye for talent. Since 2009, the Nationals organization has moved from the bottom three to the top half of organizations in minor league talent (according to both Baseball America and MiLB.com). Haters always rank on drafting Strasburg and Harper - consensus #1 picks. So let's leave them out. In 2009 Rizzo picked up Drew Storen, who has already fast tracked to the big leages, and other prospects like Jeff Kobernus, Taylor Jordan, Justin Bloxom and Daniel Rosenbaum. They are all progressing nicely through the minors.

The 2010 draft is shaping up even better, with (after Harper) Sammy Solis, Rick Hague, A.J. Cole, Blake Kelso, Robbie Ray and Dave Freitas doing very well. And the 2011 draft has the potential (if they can sign the top four picks) of being the best of the lot. As Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/726423-2011-mlb-draft-washington-nationals-hit-it-out-of-the-parkagain) put it, the Nationals' draft "hit it out of the park ... again." Sickels' final analysis of the Nationals' 2011 draft:

"Getting Rendon, Meyer, and Goodwin makes this a good draft, and if Purke has a good summer and they sign him it is even better. Turnbull, Skole, and Hill are all fine choices in their respective rounds, and while they went with affordable college pitchers for the rest of the top ten, they picked good ones, especially Dupra and Rodriguez. Overall, I think the Nationals did quite well."

Ah, but you, Anonymous internet poster, hath decreed that Rizzo has no eye for talent. And another anonymous poster says that Rizzo's mistakes are burying this team. Well, I guess that settles the question ... how could I go with those other sources and facts when measured against your reasoned judgment and obvious qualifications?

Of course, not all of these players will make it. Odds are, most of them won't. But by any measure the team is heading in the right direction. Sorry you can't see that.

Yea, we heard the same crap about Corey Brown, another over-aged centerfielder prospect and savior who is currently hitting .208 at Syracuse. Face the facts, Rizzo has no eye for talent.

Rizzo, Roy Clark, Doug Harris, Kris Kline all have pretty good eyes for talent. Throw Davey Johnson into that mix.

That's never been the problem. And the jury is still out on Corey Brown although his chances are rapidly fading now with this trade for Komatsu, Brian Goodwin and Eury Perez.

Now putting together a major league roster? Yes, that seems to be a problem especially pitching and bench. But Davey Johnson apparently does have some skill in that so we'll see if it translates now that he is closer to the driver's seat.

Well said, Stevospeak. I love the fact that we are discussing a trade of a utility player for someone with equal chances of being a 4th outfielder one day or a player-to-be-named in some future trade. So much passion. So much caring for the Nats. That's why reading these comments is crucial to my fandom.

I can't help but think Rizzo is dangling Lombardozzi & Peacock as trade baits, since neither is considered to have "high-ceiling" talent as favored by the scouting types. It saddens me that Storen's name is out there in the rumor mill. The GM's plans seem to be all over the map - again.

Here's hoping Komatsu show more promise than Corey Brown and Cuter Dykstra have thus far.

Thanks to Jerry Hairston for giving his all every day this year. Jerry really saved our bacon when Zimm was on the DL for most of the first half. Rizzo gets credit for signing him in the off season.

This is the time of year when you flip a veteran on a one-year contract for a kid with potential -- and, in this case, the minor league player of the year for the Brewers. That seems like a worthwhile deal and a good day's work for a GM.

This makes more sense than Gomes. Hairston was gone in 2 months. A good move by Riz and as I wrote on the last post I truly think part of the upgrade for Komatsu was for Riz taking Cutter Dykstra for Nyjer.

BTW has anybody covered that the Nationals HAVE NOT signed the top 5 draft picks from this year. So far nothing about even about talking ......and the one pitcher they had by the stadium Purke is he even a possibility after all this nonsense the last month. Only one other team I could find has not signed at least one top pick that is the KC Royals ....talk about the culture of losing they are in fine company ...oh all the teams where losing is as rare as snowfall in DC in july have two or three of the top picks signed right now

CBinDC, I don't think many of the top picks are signed yet. They're all waiting for the deadline b/c agents think they have to to get the most $$$. The delay in signing the draftees is a big issue that MLB hopes to cure in the new CBA for 2012 and beyond. ... Purke probably is a Horned Frog in 2011-2012 since he and his family apparently want top $$$ and the Nats hopefully aren't goin' there what with Purke uncertain health.

Your instincts are correct when it comes to post-concussive syndrome. The player on the Twins that you're thinking about is Justin Morneau. His once great future continues to be clouded 1 year after his concussion. He was MVP calibre before the concussion.

The list of players who have had career damaging concussions includes a lot of prominent MLB players including David Wright, Ryan Church, Jason Bay, and now Denard Span.

Being given medical clearance to play, is not the same as saying all neurological features are back to normal. As we see from hockey, football and baseball, recovery from a damaged brain is not the same as recovery from a sprained wrist or broken bone in the foot.

Denard Span may do well in the future, but the probabilities are against him. At any rate, his prognosis needs to take place over at least another year.

More has to be done to protect promising players like Span from the derailing of their careers by concussions.

If Rizzo did offer Clip for Span,and the Twins turned it down, he should consider the resulting positive value on the Nats' side of the ledger.

@CBinDC: It hasn't been covered because it's a non-story at this point. You do realize that the signing deadline is over two weeks away, and that the Nationals traditionally sign their toughest picks at the deadline, right? One preason they do this is because Rizzo has convince the Lerners of the value of paying "over slot" money (more than MLB suggests for the pick) and MLB asks them to keep their deals quiet so as not to interfere with other teams' negotiations with their picks?

You realize that last year the Nationals signed their top picks (Harper, Ray, Solis, Cole) at the deadline (August 16), right? And that the Nationals signed 25 of their top 26 picks in 2010 (the 14th pick didn't sign), and 13 of their top 15 (the 6th and 8th picks overall didn't sign) in 2009?

There is plenty of stuff to be critical about. Why do haters insist on making stuff up?

Rogieshan,Yes, Storen is mentioned in the rumor mill a lot, because he's a valuable, cheap, young player. Other teams are inquiring about him. Just because they ask, doesn't mean Rizzo's offerin him. (in fact many reports have Rizzo refusing to include Storen in various trades.).. Not saying they won't trade Storen, but they'll be asking a lot for him.

Thanks for the many researched, thoughtful comments on here. They even make sifting through the deadwood of ad hominem attacks and kneejerk opinions worth it

Again on the draft signings since I had to do this team by team ........The Nationals and the Royals are the only teams with NO ONE signed in the first five picks .....Many have not signed the number one pick but some have including Seattle .......the Nationals are the ONLY TEAM with three first round picks unsigned .....BTW I looked a round at draft and result with #1 pick not many teams have had back to back #1 picks two teams the Nats and Rays

This is not making anything up ......but the point is why nothing being said .....others have managed to sign some of these pick in the top 5 ....and yes I am getting worried about the situation......because while I have joked about the Lerners being cheap some things are starting look as if money is a factor more then others .....and way more for a team that makes the largest profit .....I start to feel that the Lerners are like the person who buys some pens but the ink starts to clog and are hard to use ....but hey it would be a waste to buy better pens and throw the bad ones away ......struggle with these pens until you have ripped paper and unreadable information ... but the bad pens are not wasted are they it is just the function that is bad

Please note who the agents are representing these players as well. Some agents will never sign until August 15. The crying and remorse should not start until August 16.

The Hairston/Komatsu trade is the kind of trade that we should be making. I am still fathoming the Gomes trade though. If he can deal Marquis I will be happy. If it means bringing up Peacock or Milone I will be very happy. I imagine that by now Gorzelanny and Livan have pitched themselves off of anyone else's radar.

JohnC, nice post about draft signings. CBinDC, it really does not matter, but maybe the reason why most teams have signed a few of their top 5 is that they didn't draft as aggressively as the Nats. Maybe they drafted a couple "signability guys". It means nothing that it's two weeks away and these guys aren't signed.

The Nats first 3 draft picks were in the first round or supplemental first round. They didn't have a 2nd round pick. Their 3rd round pick was Purke, very much a wildcard. They signed their 5th round pick -- Skole. So, CBinDC, if you are comparing the Nats' first 5 picks to other teams first 5 rounds, you should consider where the Nats' first 3 were taken and that Purke was their 3rd rounder; plus the normal flow of signings at the deadline as described by others above. Not to worry ...

Post a Comment

About the Author

Mark Zuckerman has covered the Nationals since the franchise arrived in D.C. He's been a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America since 2001 and is a Hall of Fame voter. Email mzuckerman@comcastsportsnet.com.